Filter press electrochemical cell with improved fluid distribution system

Abstract

A filter press electrochemical cell with an improved fluid distribution system for even distribution of electrolyte between cell units when connected in parallel, and from side to side and across the thickness of reaction chambers in individual cells regardless of whether parallel or series flow connection is used. Each preferred cell unit comprises two electrodes and a fluid distributor plate having at least two first holes therein and channel portions including diverging walls connecting these holes with opposite sides of a central cell opening in each plate. Preferred configurations of the triangular-shaped channel opening thereby formed permit distribution of fluid without complicating barrier structures or other constrictions in the fluid path such as used in prior art cells. Preferred and alternate cell arrangements and configurations are disclosed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A filter press electrochemical cell arrangement including one or more cell units held within a frame, each unit comprising two electrodes and a fluid distributor plate, said plate having two first holes therein and channel means for connecting said holes with opposite sides of a central opening in said plate, said holes corresponding to a supply and a discharge for fluid flowing through the reaction chamber defined by said central opening,   said channel means including a first portion for introducing a pressure drop in fluid flowing between said holes and said central opening and a second portion having diverging walls opening from said first portion into said central opening for delivering fluid from side to side and across the thickness of said chamber, the width of said second portion at said central opening being not greater than about 5 times its length nor less than about 2 times the thickness of said plate.   
     
     
       2. The cell arrangement in claim 1 in which the width of said second portion is substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The cell arrangement in claim 2 in which said second portion delivers fluid from side to side and across the thickness of said central opening without additional fluid distribution means. 
     
     
       4. The cell arrangement in claim 3 in which said plate includes more than one set of said first holes with said channel means connecting said sets to opposite sides of said central opening in said plate, the combined widths of said second portions on one side of said central opening being substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       5. The cell arrangement in claim 3 in which said holes are symmetrical about an axis of rotation through the center of said plate. 
     
     
       6. The cell arrangement in claim 3 in which said first portion has a substantially constant normalized hydraulic radius throughout its length. 
     
     
       7. The cell arrangement in claim 3 in which said first portion has two substantially parallel walls and a length sufficient to achieve a substantially normal velocity distribution in fluid passing therethrough. 
     
     
       8. The cell arrangement in claim 7 in which the length of said first portion is equal to or greater than its normalized hydraulic radius at the orifice opening between said first portion and said first holes in said plate. 
     
     
       9. The cell arrangement in claim 7 in which the diverging walls of said second portion form a generally triangular-shaped opening from said first portion into said central opening in said plate. 
     
     
       10. The cell arrangement in claim 9 in which said electrodes include planar plates with said distributor plate positioned therebetween, each of said electrode plates having a first hole therein aligning with one of said first holes in said distributor plate to complete an internal manifold system for flowing fluid through said cell unit from an external source of supply. 
     
     
       11. The cell arrangement in claim 10 in which said distributor plate has two second holes therein, each of said second holes being symmetrical with a different one of said first holes about an axis of rotation through the center of said distributor plate. 
     
     
       12. The cell arrangement in claim 11 in which one or more of said cell units additionally comprises a second fluid distributor plate rotated 180° about its symmetrical axis of rotation and with each said electrode plate having a second hole therein with said distributor plates and said electrode plates being positioned such that a first hole of said rotated distributor plate will be aligned with one of said second holes in each said electrode plate and in the nonrotated said distributor plate to complete a second internal manifold system for flowing a second fluid through said cell unit from a second external source of supply. 
     
     
       13. The cell arrangement in claim 12 in which each of said cell units having said second distributor plate additionally comprises a separator plate positioned between said juxtaposed distributor plates for separating the two electrode compartments formed thereby, said separator plate having holes therein aligning with said first and said second holes in said electrode and said distributor plates for completing the internal manifold system for each cell unit. 
     
     
       14. The cell arrangement in claim 13 additionally comprising spacer plates for positioning between said distributor plates and said electrode plates, said spacer plates including a central opening and first and second holes therein aligning with said corresponding opening and holes in said adjacent distributor plate. 
     
     
       15. The cell arrangement in claim 14 comprising additional said spacer plates for positioning between said distributor plates and said separator plate. 
     
     
       16. The cell arrangement in claim 14 additionally comprising an amount of conductive high surface-area material filling said central cell chamber defined by said distributor plates in at least one of said cell units thereby establishing a packed bed filter press cell arrangement. 
     
     
       17. The cell arrangement in claim 16 additionally comprising means including a sealable channel opening in at least one of said spacer, electrode or distributor plates in a cell unit for introducing said packing material into said central cell chamber defined thereby. 
     
     
       18. The cell arrangement in claim 16 in which said first portion has a substantially constant normalized hydraulic radius throughout its length. 
     
     
       19. The cell arrangement in claim 18 in which said distributor plate includes more than one set of said first holes with said channel means connecting said sets to opposite sides of said central opening therein, the combined widths of the triangular openings of said second portions on one side of said central opening being substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       20. The cell arrangement in claim 18 in which said electrode plates and said distributor plate are generally rectangular in configuration as is said central cell chamber defined thereby. 
     
     
       21. The cell arrangement in claim 20 in which said distributor plate is an electrically nonconductive material resistant to chemical attack. 
     
     
       22. The cell arrangement in claim 21 in which said distributor plate is of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
       23. The cell arrangement in claim 21 in which the thickness of said distributor plate is about 2 inches or less, and the width of the triangular opening of said second portion of said channel means is about 2 times its length or less. 
     
     
       24. The cell arrangement in claim 23 in which said one wall of said first portion of said channel means is coplanar with a wall of the second portion thereof. 
     
     
       25. The cell arrangement in claim 24 in which the length of said first portion of said channel means is at least as great as its width. 
     
     
       26. The cell arrangement in claim 25 in which said first portion of said channel means is about 1 inch wide and about 3 inches long and said second portion thereof has a width of about 9 inches at said central opening and a length of about 41/2 inches. 
     
     
       27. The cell arrangement in claim 11 in which said first and said second holes in said distributor plate are symmetrical about all three axes of rotation through the center of said distributor plate, said electrode plates each having two first holes and two second holes therein aligning with said corresponding holes in said distributor plate. 
     
     
       28. The cell arrangement in claim 11 additionally comprising more than one of said cell units in juxtaposed position with adjacent ones of said distributor plates sharing a common one of said electrode plates positioned therebetween. 
     
     
       29. The cell arrangement in claim 10 additionally comprising means including an amount of conductive high surface-area material in said central opening and a separator plate between said distributor plate and one of said electrode plates in a cell unit for establishing a packed bed filter press cell arrangement therein. 
     
     
       30. The cell arrangement in claim 1 in which the width of said second portion at said central opening is about 2 times its length and about 10 times the thickness of said plate. 
     
     
       31. A fluid distributor plate for use in an electrochemical cell of the filter press type, said plate having two first holes therein and channel means for connecting said holes with opposite sides of a central opening in said plate, said holes corresponding to a supply and a discharge for fluid flowing through the reaction chamber defined by said central opening,   said channel means including a first portion for introducing a pressure drop in fluid flowing between said holes and said central opening and a second portion having diverging walls opening from said first portion into said central opening for delivering fluid from side to side and across the thickness of said chamber, the width of said second portion at said central opening being not greater than about 5 times its length nor less than about 2 times the thickness of said plate.   
     
     
       32. The distributor plate in claim 31 in which the width of said second portion is substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       33. The distributor plate in claim 32 in which said second portion delivers fluid from side to side and across the thickness of said central opening without additional fluid distribution means. 
     
     
       34. The distributor plate in claim 33 in which said plate includes more than one set of said first holes with said channel means connecting said sets to opposite sides of said central opening in said plate, the combined widths of said second portions on one side of said central opening being substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       35. The distributor plate in claim 33 in which said holes are symmetrical about an axis of rotation through the center of said plate. 
     
     
       36. The distributor plate in claim 33 in which said first portion has a substantially constant normalized hydraulic radius throughout its length. 
     
     
       37. The distributor plate in claim 33 in which said first portion has two substantially parallel walls and a length sufficient to achieve a substantially normal velocity distribution in fluid passing therethrough. 
     
     
       38. The distributor plate in claim 37 in which the length of said first portion is equal to or greater than its normalized hydraulic radius at the orifice opening between said first portion and said first holes in said plate. 
     
     
       39. The distributor plate in claim 37 in which the diverging walls of said second portion form a generally triangular-shaped opening from said first portion into said central opening in said plate. 
     
     
       40. The distributor plate in claim 39 in which said distributor plate has two second holes therein, each of said second holes being symmetrical with a different one of said first holes about an axis of rotation through the center of said distributor plate. 
     
     
       41. The distributor plate in claim 40 in which said first and said second holes in said distributor plate are symmetrical about all three axes of rotation through the center of said distributor plate. 
     
     
       42. The distributor plate in claim 41 in which said first portion has a substantially constant normalized hydraulic radius throughout its length. 
     
     
       43. The distributor plate in claim 42 in which said distributor plate includes more than one set of said first holes with said channel means connecting said sets to opposite sides of said central opening therein, the combined widths of the triangular openings of said second portions on one side of said central opening being substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       44. The distributor plate in claim 43 in which said distributor plate is generally rectangular in configuration as is said central cell chamber therein. 
     
     
       45. The distributor plate in claim 44 in which said distributor plate is an electrically nonconductive material resistant to chemical attack. 
     
     
       46. The distributor plate in claim 45 in which said distributor plate is of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
       47. The distributor plate in claim 45 in which the thickness of said distributor plate is about 2 inches or less, and the width of the triangular opening of said second portion of said channel means is about 2 times its length or less. 
     
     
       48. The distributor plate in claim 47 in which said one wall of said first portion of said channel means is coplanar with a wall of the second portion thereof. 
     
     
       49. The distributor plate in claim 48 in which the length of said first portion of said channel means is at least as great as its width. 
     
     
       50. The distributor plate in claim 49 in which said first portion of said channel means is about 1 inch wide and about 3 inches long and said second portion thereof has a width of about 9 inches at said central opening and a length of about 41/2 inches. 
     
     
       51. The distributor plate in claim 50 in which said first portion of said channel means has one wall thereof not coplanar with said diverging walls of said second portion thereof. 
     
     
       52. The cell arrangement in claim 31 in which the width of said second portion at said central opening is about 2 times its length and about 10 times the thickness of said plate. 
     
     
       53. A fluid distributor plate for use in an electrochemical cell of the filter press type, said plate having two first holes therein and channel means for connecting said holes with opposite sides of a central opening in said plate, said holes corresponding to a supply and a discharge for fluid flowing through the reaction chamber defined by said central opening,   said channel means including a first portion for introducing a pressure drop in fluid flowing between said holes and said central opening and a second portion having diverging walls opening from said first portion into said central opening for delivering fluid from side to side and across the thickness of said chamber without additional fluid distribution means, said first portion of said channel means having one wall that is not coplanar with said diverging walls of said second portion thereof.   
     
     
       54. The distributor plate in claim 53 in which the width of said second portion is substantially equal to the width of said central opening at the point of contact therebetween. 
     
     
       55. The distributor plate in claim 54 in which the width of said second portion at said central opening is not greater than about 5 times its length nor less than about 2 times the thickness of said plate at said opening. 
     
     
       56. The distributor plate in claim 55 in which said first portion has two substantially parallel walls and a length sufficient to achieve a substantially normal velocity distribution in fluid passing therethrough. 
     
     
       57. The cell arrangement in claim 56 in which the length of said first portion is equal to or greater than its normalized hydraulic radius at the orifice opening between said first portion and said first holes in said plate. 
     
     
       58. The cell arrangement in claim 57 in which the diverging walls of said second portion form a generally triangular-shaped opening from said first portion into said central opening in said plate. 
     
     
       59. The cell arrangement in claim 58 in which said distributor plate has two second holes therein, each of said second holes being symmetrical with a different one of said first holes about an axis of rotation through the center of said distributor plate. 
     
     
       60. The cell arrangement in claim 59 in which said first and said second holes in said distributor plate are symmetrical about all three axes of rotation through the center of said distributor plate. 
     
     
       61. The cell arrangement in claim 60 in which said distributor plate is generally rectangular in configuration as is said central cell chamber therein. 
     
     
       62. The cell arrangement in claim 61 in which said distributor plate is an electrically nonconductive material resistant to chemical attact such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
       63. The cell arrangement in claim 62 in which the thickness of said distributor plate is about 2 inches or less, and the width of the triangular opening of said second portion of said channel means is about 2 times its length or less. 
     
     
       64. The cell arrangement in claim 63 in which one wall of said first portion of said channel means is coplanar with a wall of the second portion thereof. 
     
     
       65. The cell arrangement in claim 64 in which said first portion of said channel means is about 1 inch wide and about 3 inches long and said second portion thereof has a width of about 9 inches at said central opening and a length of about 41/2 inches. 
     
     
       66. The cell arrangement in claim 55 in which the width of said second portion at said central opening is about 2 times its length and about 10 times the thickness of said plate.